ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

I was a bit surprised to see that the corner of Francis and Charles still does not have its signals activated. With both Victoria and Francis fully reopened, traffic should be increasing here - indeed, GRT buses are detouring through here. Everything looks installed, what's the delay in turning them on?

There are actually several lights all along Charles that are not yet on. I too am curious why some aren't and some are. It's not very safe - I watched more than one driver come to a full stop at a green light because they thought it was still a 4-way stop.

[Viewfromthe42]

If the system experience gets worse with ION's launch, that will be the story and perception that lasts. Trying to run with half buses, half trains, is simply not feasible. If they can get to 10 minute frequency, you'll be happy and there's a good delivery of train standpoint to start service from. 15+, and you're creating a perception that won't soon go away.

If they are thinking of running with fewer/no spares, it makes safe driving around trains *absolutely* critical. It means we can't have the roadway operating in no-train mode next year, we absolutely need to have the correct no-turn signs in, possibly even dummy lights simulating trains (possibly during early burn-in or empty runs). Will this frustrate motorists a bit early? Absolutely. But if it's middle of winter when they try to start training drivers for how trains will restrict their movements, we will absolutely fail at it and see crashes, injuries, and very little time before we can't hit any acceptable level of service. New driving techniques are not going to be learned in the dark of early morning/late evening winter drives to/from work.

[KevinL]

Hopefully train burn-in runs will see train movements at the time and frequency we expect to see loaded trains running, and for a long enough time for everyone to become accustomed to them. This should make for a minimal learning curve at launch.

[Pheidippides]

I think first impressions will matter. Take the time to get it right (as possible - there will be hiccups) the first time. I'd like to see it launch on-time (or early!), but really I want them to get it right and not give the naysayers any material to work with. What's a few more weeks or months at that point anyway? Especially given Bombardier's recent reputation for overpromising and under-delivering why bother getting hopes up with this kind of talk?

[timc]

Is it possible to run some sort of truncated service terminating somewhere before Fairview or Conestoga?

But the Record told me that ION is a service to take people from one mall to the other. /s

[chutten]

Anyone have a webcam to point at the various intersections as burn-in and service begins? There's some YouTube money in it for crash-and-near-miss videos (cf. http://11foot8.com/ ). I imagine Shopify's new spot at Erb@Caroline'd be of particular note, as would the residential blocks at King@Vic.

[Canard]

1/2 - Thursday, October 6, 2016

An incredible flurry of activity at Conestoga today!  I was lucky enough to be able to catch the action mid-day.

   

   

   

[Canard]

2/2 - Thursday, October 6, 2016

   

   

   

[C Plus]

2/2 - Thursday, October 6, 2016

Great Shots.

[curiouschair]

Wow that's at least 24 construction workers at one spot, intense!

[KevinL]

THe cinderblock structure in the third photo - is that the operators' shelter? Didn't realize it was that far along.

[Pheidippides]

Ottawa approaching Charles:
   
   

TPSS @ Borden:
   

[nms]

Facing the right way, now - a ridiculously slow speed along Charles.  This really irritates me and I'm very disappointed in this.  At 25 km/h, I'll be passing trains on my bike!

Perhaps its a problem of perception in this picture, but the 25 km/h sign seems to be immediately before an S-curve in the track.

What exactly do the "resume safe speed" signs mean? They would seem to imply that the vehicle was previously traveling at an unsafe speed.

Those resume safe speed signs are popping up everywhere I saw another one in front of Charles St. Terminal and another one in the Victoria Park station.

"Safe Speed" may be a generic term with a defined speed that trains should be traveling along the track when they are in the vicinity of limited visibility, near a platform or crossing.  For instance, when operating heavy rail equipment, trains must travel at a speed where they can safely come to a stop in half the distance visible looking in the direction of travel.  

Alternately, as defined by the Track Design Handbook for Light Rail Transit (US FTA, circa 2012), "Safe Speed" is "the speed limit above which the vehicle becomes unstable and in great danger of derailment upon the introduction of any anomaly in the roadway."

[Canard]

Perhaps its a problem of perception in this picture, but the 25 km/h sign seems to be immediately before an S-curve in the track.

Exactly correct. Those curves are rated for 29 km/h, so the 25 km/h limit makes sense. I did not realize this at the time of my post.

Edit: Sorry, it's the curves further down (C20-5, C20-6) that are rated 29 km/h. Curves C20-3 and C20-4 are at Water and are designed for 23 km/h. So actually now I'm surprised this isn't posted 20 km/h!

[timio]

Tracks are across Block Line. No forms yet, but close.

I hope the project team resurfaces Block Line up towards Hayward when complete. It's a bit of an off-road experience through there.